Chapter 3
1 Month Later
"Katie, I don't want to go to school. I want to stay here with you." Kate looked at her seven year old sister "Madds, I'm going as well, and you have to go." Madii was still really upset. "Katie, please." Madii was almost in tears. She had positively exploded when Kate had told her and Jodi that they were all going to school next term. And now next term was here, today. Well, technically it was two days ago but Jodi had been sick so they had missed out on school. But they were going today. Kate knew she had to finish school if she wanted to work in the Navy and so she had enrolled them all in Appletree School. It hadn't been the easiest thing to do, going back to school. She still had her part-time job at the animal shelter and loved doing it, but she really wanted to be in the Navy. "Madds, I'm going as well and you have to go to school. Madds-" but as Kate spoke there was a knock at the door. Kate froze. If it was Alex…. "Who's there?" Kate asked in her forgotten English accent. After a slight pause a woman's voice rang out, muffled slightly by the door. "Katie is that you?" Kate didn't answer. "You probably don't remember me do you? I haven't seen you since Alex moved in. It's Aunty Lindy. Open the door please sweetie." Kate slowly walked towards the door and opened it. Lindy looked at her niece, she was so grown up. "Hey gorgeous," Lindy said, hugging the three girls. "I saw a letter on the ground addressed to you from the school and I saw your address so I thought I'd come and see you. How have you been?" Kate invited her aunt in and they sat down. Lindy unconsciously tugged at her long brown hair as Jodi explained what they had and were doing. She had never realised how brave her nieces were.
Kate came back with some biscuits and drinks (O.J for the girls and tea for Lindy). After a slight pause Lindy looked up at her. "I didn't know you still had the old English accent." Kate looked puzzled for a minute then said, "Oh, yeah, I didn't want Alex to know we were here. I use the accent every time I open the door." She looked up at the clock. 8:25 Am. "Lindy, not to be rude but we better get to school." Lindy got up. "Sorry to keep you. I'll give you my address and phone number. Come over anytime." Kate took the number. "How about you come over tonight for dinner and we can catch up then." Lindy nodded. "Okay, sounds great. I'll give you a lift to school today seeing as I kept you." The girls nodded and grabbed their bags and surprisingly arrived at school on time, (a feat never accomplished at their old house.)
Kate walked Madii to her year one class, Jodi to her year six class, and then she ascended the steps to her English class.
The bell had rung little over than five minutes ago but her class was already in their room, and they all stared at her as she knocked on the door. Her teacher, a stern looking woman of about 50 looked up at her. "Yes." She said, looking back at her roll. "Um, I'm Kate; I'm a new student here." The woman studied Kate's face. "You're late." Kate hastily apologised and said, "My little sister was a bit nervous and couldn't find her room, so I walked her."
"You're parents could have walked her." Kate sucked in her breath. She had warned Jodi and Madii not to say anything about them living by themselves, and was prepared with a response, but even so, the question shocked her. "My dad died when I was nine and my mother's at work." It wasn't technically lying, her dad had died when she was nine and her mother would be at work now. Her teacher jolted her out of her thoughts. "Okay, don't let it happen again. You are in year 9 and should be able to turn up on time. Seeing as it's your first day I'll let you off. I'm Mrs Walshburn and I'm your teacher for English. Have a seat next to Nicola. What's your name?"
Kate sat down next to the girl with long brown hair in a ponytail and said to her teacher, "My name's Katelyn McGregor. K-A-T-E-L-Y-N McGregor." The teacher nodded and wrote her name down on the roll and asked the girl sitting next to Kate to show her the work she'd missed. The girl, Nicola, nodded and turned to Kate saying, "Hi, okay, did you want me to explain the work or did you want me to just lend you my book? I'm Nikki Caetano by the way, Walshburn doesn't believe in nicknames. So I guess you're Katelyn for the year. Enjoy." Kate laughed. "Great. Not. I hate my name. The only person who calls me Katelyn is Ale-" She cut herself off quickly. She didn't want to talk about Alex at all, not to anyone. Nikki looked at her strangely. Kate crash-landed back to reality, "Doesn't matter, can I borrow your book?"
Kate didn't know how she got through the rest of her classes, if it wasn't for Nikki she probably wouldn't. At lunch Kate sat with Nikki, Jodi and Madii. Madii was sitting on Nikki's lap, (to say that Madii had taken a shine to Nikki was the understatement of the Millennium) and Jodi was sitting on the other side of Kate. Kate was talking to Nikki, "So, what do you want to do when you are all grown up?" Nikki looked at Kate. You probably think I'm crazy, but I love geography, so maybe do something with that. I was thinking about the Navy." Kate did a double take and Nikki looked hurt. Kate immediately spoke. "No, Nikki, That's great. I just thought I was like the only girl ever who wanted to be in the Navy." Nikki smiled and said, "me too."
After school finished at 2:45 Kate met her sisters at the flag pole. As they walked through the gates Madii and Jodi explained about the friends they'd made someone called out, "Oi! McGregor!! Wait up!" Kate looked behind her to see Nikki and a boy of about 8 running after Kate. Kate stopped and waited for her friend. Nikki caught up, slightly out of breath; the boy close behind her. "Hey. Where about are you?" Nikki asked.
"Moon Crescent, that first block of units." Kate recited. Nikki nodded. "I live at the end of Poplar Lane. It's the road that crosses yours." Kate nodded. They continued talking as they walked. "So, who's the little one?" Kate asked, gesturing at the boy Nikki had walked with. "This is Samuel. Or Sam, my little brother." She looked at him. He was staring at Madii. Madii looked at him and said. "Hey, you're in my class." He looked away from her and went to hide behind Nikki but Madii stopped him. "Hi, I'm Madii and I'm six. How old are you?" He looked at her, unsure of whether or not this stranger was to be trusted. After a moment or two he held up six fingers, but still stared at his toes. Madii smiled at him and asked him if he had any pets, what his favourite movie was, anything to get him to talk. And it worked. And Nikki complained he wasn't shutting up.
As they were talking Kate was aware of car pulling up behind her. She knew the car could be for anyone, but she couldn't help rid the paranoid thoughts entering her brain. What if it's Alex, Kate? What are you going to do then huh? "Katie." Lindy's voice rang out. "Jodes, Madii" They all turned around. Lindy was in her yellow Volkswagen bug. "I'm going to the shops. Do you guys need anything?" Kate pulled out her wallet and pulled out a 20 note. "If you're going can you please get us some milk and bread?" Lindy nodded. "Sure, I'll drop it off at your house tonight. How was school?" Madii launched herself into a short explanation of their day but Kate cut across her. "Sorry Madds but Nikk and Sam need to get home and so do we, so you can tell aunty Lindy tonight." Madii nodded and they all said goodbye to Lindy and walked the remainder of the walk to their house. "Hey, Kate. Are you walking to school tomorrow or is your mum driving you?" Kate looked at Nikki and said, "Uh no, I'm walking. Why?"
"Meet me here at 8am and I'll walk with you?" Nikki asked. "Sure thing." Kate replied.
"Okay, see you." Said Nikki. "Bye" Said Kate.